Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-10-10

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Tsakalotos says he's pleased with Eurogroup's decision

[02] ND will reverse law on television licences, Mitsotakis says in Parliament

[03] Dijsselbloem says he's hearing 'optimistic news' about Greece

[04] School bell rings for children refugees in Greece

[01] Tsakalotos says he's pleased with Eurogroup's decision

Tsakalotos said Eurogroup approved the completion of the 15 milestones but the 2.8 billion euros will be disbursed in two tranches, as Greece has not yet submitted data for the payment of arrears in September, due to technical reasons.

"The disbursement of the 1.7 billion euros which correspond to the repayment of arrears will take place on October 24," the minister said, adding that since the country doesn't have any important payments due in the immediate future the 1.1 billion euros which correspond to the completion of the milestones will also be disbursed then.

[02] ND will reverse law on television licences, Mitsotakis says in Parliament

Speaking during an off-the-agenda Parliament debate on corruption and intertwined interests called by the government, Mitsotakis promised to reverse the law passed by Minister of State Nikos Pappas and "restore conditions of competition, increasing the number of licences."

ND's leader also alleged "government intervention in justice" in connection with the television licences tender process, focusing on a decision to postpone a planned session of the Council of State to discuss a related case on September 30.

"In no country where there is rule of law is the session of a supreme court cancelled. This did not even happen during the junta," he said, noting that the mission of the supreme court was to interpret the law, not public opinion.

"I appeal for this dissonance to be corrected. The court must resolve the issue of the constitutionality of the Pappas law as soon as possible," he said, noting that the job of judges was to apply the law.

Slamming the government for unreliability and reneging on past promises, Mitsotakis also criticised the process launched to discuss possible changes to the Constitution, noting that the revision of the Constitution was "the exclusive province of Parliament."

The country needs an overall strategy for fighting corruption and intertwined interests, which goes beyond the witch hunt currently being attempted by the government, Mitsotakis said.

"The government has no plan for dealing with intertwined interests. It is instead developing its own. The country cannot afford to add a crisis of democracy to the existing economic and social crisis," he noted.

SYRIZA's designs would come to naught, along with its government, Mitsotakis added, ending with a challenge to the prime minister to "call elections if you dare."

[03] Dijsselbloem says he's hearing 'optimistic news' about Greece

"We're going to hear from the institutions (…) I'm hearing some optimistic news but I want to hear them directly from the institutions. On that basis the next disbursement can take place," he told journalists, adding that Greece is doing much better and is returning to growth.

Asked about the participation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the Greek program, Dijsselbloem referred to the Eurogroup decision in May, in which the Fund expressed its intention to participate on the funding part. He also said there will be no discussions on debt relief today and that this issue cannot "open" every month.

[04] School bell rings for children refugees in Greece

The children, from Derveni's refugee camp, arrived shortly after 15:00, accompanied by Thessaloniki mayor Yiannis Boutaris and municipal councilors. The mayor's team had brought along buns and pastries to distribute them among the children. "I'm sad about the reactions seen in other schools, which are based on baseless mentalities, as all kids have been inoculated," Boutaris said.

"We tried to prepare accordingly and we already have teachers here who will teach the children," the school's principle Dimitris Goulis said.

At the 81st elementary school in the area of Kato Petralona in Athens, 30 children refugees from the camp of Eleonas were welcomed in their school by their new classmates and teachers. Another 60 children are expected to attend the same school in the coming days.

About 10 teachers volunteered to teach the children Greek, math and art during their four-hour school-day. "We will embrace the children of the refugees. They are just like all other children," the school's representative said.

A Greek woman, mother of three children said "education is for all the children, without discriminations. Our society here is open and we have embraced the world." A grandfather standing nearby, waiting to pick up his grandson, said all children in the world are the same. "Why shouldn't they come to school? There's no problem."

"Apart from some isolated exceptions which tried to create a negative climate but were dealt with immediately from representatives of the ministry, the welcoming of children refugees by Greek students and teachers was enthusiastic," the Education ministry said in a statement, adding that Greek society responded warmly to the introduction of refugees in school.

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